Plastic hair work and method of constructing same



Aug. 7, 1923. 1,464,089

R. ERNEST PLASTIC HAIRWORK AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME Filed Feb. I LS. 1922 A TTORNEYI Patented Aug'. 7, i923..

ai" star RICHARD ERNEST, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLASTIC HAIR WORK AND METHOD OF CGNSTEUCTNG SAME.

Application filed Februaryw, 1922. Serial No. 536,140. i

To all whom t may conce/fa.:

specification i Be it known that l, RICHARD ERNEST, a citizen of t-he United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful: Plastic Hair l/Vork and Method of Constructing Same, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new means for concealing baldness which will defy detection and will therefore Overcome the known disadvantages of and supplant the use of wigs.

A further object is to provide a plastic foundation which can be accurately moulded to lit the shape of the bald part of any individual head. f

Another object is to provide an artificial covering for baldness comprising a plasticl background in which human hair is inserted, the hairs being placed in the plastic singly and not in groups. thereby imitating nature with great fidelity.

Another obj ect is to provide a background for the hair which can be made to present an exactly similar appearance to the human scalp and which can readily be tinted or colored to coincide with the complexion of the individual, and a further object is to provide a method for the construction of the finished plastic hairwork product.

4LF or the accomplishment of these and such further objects as will be hereinafter'apparent to'those skilled in the artsto which this appertains, the inventionV consist-s in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts or materials and the method of producing or assembling them herein specilically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is diagrammaticallyshown apreferred `embodiment of a method and construction of the invention but it is to be understood that changes, va-l riations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

ln the drawings forming a portion of this Fig. l is ,a side lView of a mould showing the first stage of a preferred method of carrying out my invention.

y Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a more advanced stage of the method.

Fig. 3 isa side view of a completed head covering for a case of complete baldness.

F ig. 4 is a sectional view showing the con struction of a completed plastic hairwork.

.,Fig. 5 is a section showing diagrammati-A cally the manner in which the single hairs are inserted into the plastic and the condition of the plastic before being heated, and

F ig. 6 is a similar vview showing the manner in which the plastic ows around and grips the hairs after being heated.

ln carrying out my invention l first take a mould of the outline of the head to be treated for baldness whether complete baldness, partial baldness or baldness ofthe top portion only, the mould being preferably of plaster of paris or any othersuitable material. After this mould has set and hardened another workingl mould of similar material is then cast therefrom givingran accurate reproduction of the `ordiline of the baldportion of the head to be treated, with all de-r pressions and contoursy `faithfully reproduced.`

Upon this working mould as shown in Fig. l a coating of rubber solution is then` placed according to the size of the baldness to be covered, the larger'outline indicated by the letter A in Fig. l showing the outline for covering complete baldness, the dot and dash line B indicating partial baldness, and the kdot and dash line C indicating topL baldness. The dotted line l) represents a some what exaggerated showing of a depression such as sometimes occurs in the outline or contour of the head of various individuals, in which cases it is possible for me to place a piece of padding `or filling beneath the plastic to correct such irregularities., i

After having coated the Vmould Ywith the rubber solution, a layer of silk fibre F is placed over the solution and for convenience inwerking is preferably extended and' se` curedto the mould approximately one inch beyond the outline of the `foundation desired, this silk libre forming the background ofthe finished plastic and serving as a base or body to receive and holdthe upper layer of the plastic. lf the plastic isto be made for a case of entire baldness a small V- shaped piece of elastic material G is inserted in the inward curve behind theears for the purpose of allowing the plastic to be readily placed on or taken off the head. A silk fibre thread ll is then placed upon the silk fibre extending around and parallel to ythe final outline of the foundation a short distance from the edge thereof. The purpose of this silk thread is to hold the plastic in the proper concaved shape and Aprevent it from opening or straightening out when re- Vmoved from the mould.

character vof the Acoloring .depending upon the color desired according to the complexion of the individual for'xvhom the hair- `Work is being made. Asmany coatings of this ,mixture will be applied asis necessary to .obtain the i required thickness.

. Into this plastic foundationJ single hairsV K are then inserted with any suitable sharp needle like instrument, only one hair being inserted at-each spot and the hairs being Workedinto the plastic from the edges to- Wards the crown, it being understood that the hairsare inserted at an inclination as shown in thedrawings, the inclination of the exposed portion of the hairbeing away from the crown. The hair is inserted into the foundation a suflicient distance to project slightly beyond the inner side for a purpose which Will hereinafter appear.`

Thefoundation is then removed from the mould and cut out along the original` lines of measurement after which the outer side in which the hairs are implanted is treated withV a solution of formaldehyde which renders the upper Vlayer light and insoluble after it has dried. j f

The yinner Vsurface of the foundation is now given a coating of -gum and collodi'on which not only acts to hold the projecting inner ends of the hairssecurely in the plastic but also serves to make the 'innerside of the plastic slightly adhesive so that it Will stick securely Vto the Yhead When placed thereon.

After theynal inner coating has been applied, the plastic hairwork is then heated to a moderate' temperature 'untilboth the outer and `inner layers-become 'slightly viscous. The outer layer thereby -flows around and tightly grips' each singlehair "as shovvny in Fig.V 6 vWhile the inner layer of gum and col-'1A lodion Aalso adheres strongly Vto the inner Vprojecting ends.

It is desirable to pierce `the foundation throughivith a plurality'of small holes or Vpores L which provide forfventilation. v

It will be understood that any length Tof Vhair may be usedl according to the Wishes of the individual or Whether the hairivorlil is tQ-be used formen or Women.

.lflavingthus disclosed my invention what' It claim as new andV desire to secure by Letters Patent4 ofthe United States, 'isev l. An 'artificial hair covering for the human head made to present a perfect resemblanceto lthe natural human scalp andr hair comprising a plastic outer layer, an adhesive plastic inner layer, a libre base intermediate said lplastic layers and a plurality of hairs imbedded in and through said layers and base. Y ,j j A,

2. An artificial hair covering for the human headmade ltopresent a perfect resemblance to the natural human scalp and hair comprising a plastic foundation having an elastic piece inserted therein to permit said foundation to be expanded or contracted.

3. An artificial hair covering forfthe human head made to present a perfect resem# blance to the `natural human scalp and hair comprising a plastic foundation, hairs imbedded therein and a silk fibre thread im,- bedded in said foundation adjacent its outer outline,.whereby the foundationV Will be re Vtained in a curved concave form. .l

' l.. 1n an artificial hair covering for the hil# man head madeztofpresent a perfect resem.

blancetothe natural humanscalp and hair, a foundation comprising a plastic outer layer, an adhesive plasticinnerilayer, a fibre base intermediate said plasticlayeraa silkl libre thread ,adj acentthe edge of saidfoundation and a plurality of hairsimbedded in said foundation. i i

5. In an artificial hair covering for thehu man head madeto present a perfect resemblance to the natural human 'scalpi and hair, a foundation comprising. a lplasticY outer layer, an adhesive plastic'inner layer, a fibre base `intermediate said plastic layers, 'a silk fibre thread adjacent theedge of said founda; tion and a plurality of single hairs separately:`

imbedded in said foundation.y

6. An artificial .hair coveringiforxtlie hu-4 man head made to, present a perfect .resem-V blance to the natural. human scalp anddiair comprising afplastic foundation 1nV which the hairs are imbedded and said.foundationhav-` ing a plural-ity of holes therethrough lto pro-Y vide ventilation. l

'E'. In an artificial"V hair .covering for the h'f..

man head madeto present' a perfect resem? blance to the natural vhuman scalp andhair,

a plastic foundation comprising an outer plasticlayer of gelatine andglycer-ine, an

inner plastic layer of gum and collodilon-a.

fibre base intermediate saidv layerslfand ajgplurality i of .hairs im bedded in saidv foundation.'

. 9. The method of constructingian artificial, iair covering which consists. in-:takingua mould of the part to be covered, makinga. Working mould from said. rstmentioned mould, applying a coating of rubber 'solue tion to said working mould, applying a piece of silk fibre on said rubber coating, applying successive layers of plastic composition to said silk libre, whereby a plastic foundation is secured, inserting a plurality of single hairs into said plastic foundation at separated points thereof, applying formaldehyde to the outer side of said foundation, removing said foundation from said mould,apply ing an adhesive plastic composition to the inner side of said foundation and finally heating said covering to agglomerate said plastic compositions.

10. The method of constructing an artificial hair covering which consists in taking a mould of the part to be covered, making a working mould from said first mentioned mould, applying a coating of rubber solution to said working mould, covering said solution with a piece of silk fibre, applying successive layers of a plastic composition composed of gum and gelatine to said fibre whereby a plastic foundation is formed, inserting a plurality of single hairs at separated points in said foundation, applying formaldehyde to said plastic composition, removing said foundation from said working mould, applying a coating of adhesive plastic composition consisting of gum and collodion to the inner side of said foundation, and nally heating said covering to agglomerate said plastic compositions.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York this 19th day of January A. D. 1922.

RICHARD ERNEST. 

